Valve Armature for a Solenoid Valve, and Valve Cartridge for a Solenoid Valve

Abstract

A valve armature assembly of a solenoid valve includes a body, a closing element, and an elastic damping element. The body includes a depression located at an end of the body. The closing element is received in the depression and includes a closing member configured to interact with a valve seat of the valve. The elastic element is positioned in the depression between the closing element and the body and is configured to damp a pulse resulting from the closing member striking the valve seat.

Claims

1. A valve armature assembly for a solenoid valve, comprising: a body that includes a depression located at an end of the body; a closing element received in the depression and including a closing member configured to interact with a valve seat; and an elastic damping element positioned in the depression between the closing element and the body, and configured to damp a pulse resulting from the closing member striking the valve seat.

2. The valve armature assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic damping element is an elastomer disk.

3. The valve armature assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the elastic damping element includes a plurality of recesses.

4. The valve armature assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closing element is an injection-molded plastic part.

5. The valve armature assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one retaining element that holds the closing element in the depression.

6. The valve armature assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one retaining element is either (i) an isolated calking, (ii) a circumferential calking, or (iii) a flanging located at an edge of the depression.

7. The valve armature assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the depression is a blind hole; and the elastic damping element is positioned at a base of the blind hole.

8. The valve armature assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the closing element further includes a closing element body; and at least a portion of the closing element body has dimensions matched to dimensions of at least a portion of the depression.

9. The valve armature assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the closing member is disposed onto the closing element body.

10. The valve armature assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the closing element body includes the elastic damping element.

11. The valve armature assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein: the closing element body further includes a socket; and the closing member is received in the socket.

12. The valve armature assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one of (i) the closing member and (ii) the socket includes a shape configured to hold the closing member in the socket, the shape formed via hot deformation.

13. The valve armature assembly as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a clipped connection that holds the closing member in the socket.

14. A valve cartridge for a solenoid valve, comprising: a pole body; a guide sleeve connected to the pole body; at least one first flow port; at least one second flow port; a valve sleeve connected to the guide sleeve, and including a valve seat positioned between the at least one first flow port and the at least one second flow port; and a valve armature assembly including: a body having a depression located at an end of the body; a closing element received in the depression, coupled to the body, and having a closing member configured to interact with the valve seat; and an elastic damping element positioned in the depression between the closing element and the body and configured to damp a pulse resulting from the closing member striking the valve seat, wherein the valve armature assembly is configured to move axially inside the guide sleeve, such that axial motion of the valve armature assembly is guided inside the guide sleeve between: a closed position, whereat the closing element seals the valve seat and interrupts a fluid flow between at least the one first flow port and at least the one second flow port; and an open position, whereat the closing element is spaced apart from the valve seat and enables the fluid flow between at least the one first flow port and at least the one second flow port; and a return spring configured to exert a spring force that biases the valve armature assembly toward the closed position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a schematic, perspective sectional representation of an exemplary embodiment of a valve cartridge according to the invention for a solenoid valve with a first exemplary embodiment of a valve armature according to the invention.

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a schematic, perspective sectional representation of a second exemplary embodiment of a valve armature according to the invention.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0018] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the exemplary embodiment represented of a valve cartridge 1 according to the invention for a solenoid valve comprises a pole body 2, a guide sleeve 4 connected to the pole body 2, a valve armature 10, which is axially moveable in the direction of the arrow and guided inside the guide sleeve 4 against the force of a return spring 7 between a closed position and an open position and which is coupled to a closing element 14, and a valve sleeve 6 connected to the guide sleeve 4 and having a valve seat 6.1, which is arranged between at least one first flow port 6.2 and at least one second flow port 6.3. On the energizing of a solenoid assembly, not shown in more detail, that is to say when an electrical current is applied to a coil winding of the solenoid assembly via electrical connections, a magnetic force generated causes the axially moveable valve armature 10 to move inside the guide sleeve 4 against the force of the return spring 7. The maximum possible stroke of the valve armature 10 or the closing element 14 is predefined by an air gap 3 between the pole body 2 and the valve armature 10. As can further be seen from FIG. 1, the closing element 14 in the closed position shown has a sealing interaction with the valve seat 6.1 and interrupts a fluid flow between at least the one first flow port 6.2 and at least the one second flow port 6.3. In an open position, not shown in more detail, the closing element 14 is lifted off from the valve seat 6.1 and allows the fluid flow between at least the one first flow port 6.2 and at least the one second flow port 6.3.

[0019] As can further be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, a depression 12, 12A, which at least partially accommodates the closing element 14, 14A, having a closing member 14.1, 14.1A and interacting with the valve seat 6.1, is arranged at one end of the valve armature 10, 10A. According to the invention an elastic damping element 16, 16A, which damps a pulse occurring as the closing member 14.1, 14.1A strikes the valve seat 6.1, is arranged between the closing member 14.1, 14.1A and the depression 12, 12A.

[0020] In the first exemplary embodiment of the valve armature according to the invention represented in FIG. 1, the elastic damping element 16 is embodied as an elastomer disk. The elastic damping element 16 embodied as an elastomer disk is inserted into the depression 12 in the valve armature 10. For varying the damping properties, the damping element may additionally be provided with recesses. In order to obtain an additional damping effect, the closing element 14 may be formed as an injection-molded plastic part, such as a PEEK part, for example. As can further be seen from FIG. 1, the closing element 14 is held in the depression 12 by retaining means 18 in the form of circumferential calking or flanging at the edge of the depression 12.

[0021] Alternatively, isolated calking or flanging may be provided at multiple points at the edge of the depression 12. Thus, at three points, which are arranged uniformly spaced at the edge of the depression 12, for example, isolated calking or flanging may be provided as retaining means 18, in order to hold the closing element 14 in the depression 12.

[0022] As can further be seen from FIG. 1, the depression 12 in the exemplary embodiment shown is embodied as a blind hole, at the base of which the damping element 16 is arranged. In the first exemplary embodiment represented the closing element 14 comprises a cylindrical body 14.2, the dimensions of which are matched to the dimensions of the depression 12. Moreover, a spherical cap-shaped closing member 14.1 is formed onto the body 14.2. Other suitable geometrical shapes may naturally also be used for the depression 12 and the closing element 14. Thus the body 14.2 may also be of a solid rectangular or cuboidal shape, for example, and the closing member 14.1 may be embodied, for example, as a cone or truncated cone.

[0023] In the second exemplary embodiment of the valve armature 10A according to the invention represented in FIG. 2, the body 14.2A of the closing element 14A is formed as an elastic damping element 16A. The body 14.2A may be embodied as an elastic injection-molded plastic part, for example. Here the body 14.2A comprises a socket 14.3A, which accommodates the closing member 14.1A. The closing member 14.1A, for example, may be produced as a ball, cone or truncated cone, preferably from hardened steel. The closing member 14.1A may be held in the socket 14.3A of the body 14.2A by hot deformation or by a clipped connection, for example. In a manner similar to the first exemplary embodiment, the depression 12A in the second exemplary embodiment shown is likewise embodied as a blind hole. As in the first exemplary embodiment, the closing element 14A is held in the depression 12A by retaining means 18A embodied as circumferential calking or flanging at the edge of the depression 12A.

[0024] Alternatively, isolated calking or flanging may be provided at multiple points at the edge of the depression 12A.

[0025] As can further be seen from FIG. 1, the valve cartridge 1 with the first or second exemplary embodiment of the valve armature 10, 10A may be calked by way of a valve bushing 4 in a corresponding seating bore of a hydraulic block not further represented. Moreover, a radial filter 8 is arranged in the area of at least the one second flow port 6.3 in the valve sleeve 6, in order to filter dirt particles out of the fluid flow.

[0026] The exemplary embodiment shown relates to a valve cartridge 1 for a normally closed solenoid valve. The valve armature 10, 10A according to the invention may also be used, however, for a valve cartridge of a normally open solenoid valve, not shown further, in order to damp the closing noise.

[0027] Embodiments of the present invention provide a valve armature and a valve cartridge for a solenoid valve, which through the use of an elastic damping element between the closing member of a closing element and a depression in the valve armature advantageously damp the pulse occurring as the closing member strikes the valve seat, and thus reduce the structure-borne noise in the vehicle.